Steam purifier



1929- G'. H. GIBSON 1,730,133

STEAM PURIFIER Filed Nov. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR v $502656. 6/650 BY 0 A I E I a KTTORNY Oct. 1, 1929, G. H. GIBSON STEAM Puiumrm Filed Nov. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR 5:006:65 67550 :5 n :51? E: E 1: 1::

ATTORNEY Patented Get. 1, 1929 UNETEE STATES GEORGE H. GIBSON, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY STEAM EURIFIER Application filed November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,339.

The general object of the presentinvention is to provide improved means for separating impurities, particularly liquids, from gases. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved separator or purifier within a steam and water drum for separating moisture or oil vapor from the steam passing out of the drum. The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages and specific objects atl tained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation in section on the line ll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; I Fig. 3 is a plan view of the battle system; Fig. 4- is a view of a modified baffle arrangement; Fig. 5 shows a modified form of separator; and 7 Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another modification of my invention.

In the drawings is shown a steam purifier or separator located in the upper portion and extending longitudinally of the steam space of a steam and water drum and consisting of a plurality of oppositely inclined bafiles having their lower ends draining into one or more longitudinal gutters. The purifier is so located in the drum that a dry steam 49 space is formed between the upper part of the battle system and the top of the steam drum.

In the preferred mode of construction of my invention, I provide a steam and Water.

drum A having the usual cylindrical form and central steam outlet A to the steam main, with a series of battles B sloping upwardly toward the center line of the drum and draining into gutters C extending along 50 the lower baffle ends. The separated moisture may be returned to the lower part of the drum A by pipes D.

The bafile system B is composed of two longitudinal series B, B of transversely extending baffles on each side of the transverse center line of the drum. Each transverse battle is inclined towards the highest part of the drum and extends at an angle to the transverse center line of the drum as shown in Fig. 3. The individual baffles B are 0 joined at their highest points to corresponding bai lles B by any suitable method. The battle system may extend the entire length of the drum, but it is suflicient for usual operating conditions to restrict it to a fraction of the length as shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the baffles B and B are connected to gutters C which are. longitudinally inclined to the same degree as the baflies.

In the preferred construction a baffle of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is preferably used. This bafile is in the general form of an inclined letter S. Each baflie consists of an upper downwardly curved portion B and a lower upwardly curved portion B having their adjacent edge portions meeting in a downwardly projecting edge 13*. The outer edge of the portion B is turned inwardly and upwardly at B while the outer edge of the portion B is outwardly and so downwardly turned at B When in the proper position in the battle system, the upper curved portion B of each baflle overlaps the lower curved portion B of one of the adjacent baffles.

The gutters C are of U-shaped cross section, each consisting of an inner side wall 0 to which the individual baffles are connected, a bottom C and a vertical outer wall C having a flanged edge secured to the drum A. The bottom C slopes downwardly from each end to the center portion of the gutter to which the pipe D is connected. The inner wall G of each gutter is provided with suitable openings to allow the water and impurities from the battles to drop to the bottom of the gutter. The inner Wall is extended upwardly until it makes an air tight connection with an inclined plate C extending longitudinally of the drum A and connected at its a some of the bubbles break before reaching 7 outlet A.

lower edge to the outer wall C and at its upper edge to the steam drum. This arrangement prevents steam passing into the gutter chamber from the lower part of the bafile system from passing directly to the dry steam space above the baiiies, as such steam generally contains some moisture and moreover would have a tendency to entrap water passing into the gutters from the upper part of the baffles and carry it into the dry steam space. Due to the plates C* the steam is forced to pass through the upper part of the battle system before entering the dry steam space above the baffles.

At each end of the ba-flie system are vertical plates F connected to the outermost bafiles, the plates C and C and to the upper part of the drum A to prevent steam carrying moisture from entering over the baflie system. Triangular plates F .connected. to the tops of the adjacent center bafiies are used to prevent steam passing directly from the lower part of the drum to the dry steam The wet steam passes upwardly into the baffle system, where it contacts with the numerous projecting bafiie portions, on which the moisture and other impurities condense and either drop back into the water directly or flow down the baffle gutters into the gutters C and through the pipes D at the sides ofthe drum to the water.

In the general operation of the steam purifier shown, steam containing drops of moisture due 'to priming and bubbles due to foaming, passes upwardly from the water space in the drum A towards the separator bafiies. Due to the arrangement of the baffies at the highest level possible, the unobstructed drum volume is large enough so that the baflies and partof the moisture content may be separated by gravity. The wet steam passesthrough the-baflie system and the remaining moisture and impurities are sepa rated out by contact with the bafiies. The dry steam resulting passes out through the outlet A to thesteam main.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings is shown a modified form of bafiie for use in a steam separator. Each bafiie K consists of oppositely inclined upper and lower plates K and K The plate K is provided with an integral plate element K secured at the upper edge thereof and curved downwardly and inward 1y to form a gutter. The plate K has a V- shaped plate K secured to the opposite edge. The plate K is formed at its upper edge portion with a trough shaped plate section K secured at an angle to the lower edge of the plate K. The plate K is provided with spaced rows of drain holes K for allowing drops of water to pass downwardly to the gutters formed by the plate elements K K and K with the plates K and K The steam flow through the bafiie is diagrammatically illustrated.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified arrangement of baffles wherein the system is formedby superposed rows of baffles 151, lVI A slightly greater height of gutter is necessary with superposed rows and a downwardly extending bafile plate M from the inner wall of the gutter to prevent wet steam from going directly from the lower battle through the gutter to the highest part of the upper battle, otherwise the arrangement is the same. This arrangement may be used where a larger bafl'le surface is desirable.

In Fig. 6 a second modification of my invention is shown wherein the purifier is formed by oppositely inclined bafiies b and if having their lower ends connected to a gutter 0 extending along the longitudinal center line of the drum. Longitudinally extending plates 0 close the upper ends of the battles and are secured at their upper portions to the steam drum. Extending along the top of the gutter 0 is a plate f and depending at an angle therefrom are battle plates f and f for the purpose of deflecting any wet steam in the gutter portion into the bafltle system.

Among the desirable features of my invention are its compactness and applicability to existing drum installations. It is especially, advantageous in being located at a high level in the drum and in utilizing the upper part of the drum shell as the top side of the dry steam space. The unobstructed drum volume below the separator is very desirable as it permits fluctuations in the Water level without affecting the separator operation and provides suflicient time for the air bubbles to break, for entrained water to be separated by gravity before entering the baffle system and to reduce local steam velocities in the drum. The specific forms of self-draining bafiies disclosed are designed to give a high ratio of bafiie area to the drum volume occupied and to lower the steam velocity through the baflies.

lVhile in accordance with the provisions of 1 the statutes, I have illustrated and described the'best forms ofembodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a steam drum, a steam separator comprising a plurality of oppositely inclined baffies connected in pairs at their upper ends, gutters connected to the lower ends of said battles, plates cutting off the top of said gutters from the space above said baffles, and end plates closing the openings between the tops of the end battles and steam drum.

2. The combination with a steam drum having a steam outlet at the top thereof, of a steam separator in the upper part of said drum below said steam outlet and comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced baffle plates extending transversely of said drum, and means connecting the battle plates at each end of said separator with said drum at points adjacent the ends of the separator to provide a large dry steam space between said baflle plates and said drum and connected to said steam outlet, said separator being arranged in said drum to leave a large unobstructed drum space between the separator and normal water level in said drum.

3. The combination with a steam drum having a steam outlet at the top thereof, of a steam separator in the upper part of said drum symmetrically arranged with respect to said steam outlet and comprising a plurality of V-shaped bafile plates extending transversely of said drum, a gutter connected to the lower end of each of said baflle plates, and means connecting the baffle plates at each end of said separator with said drum at points adjacent the ends of the separator to provide a large unobstructed dry steam space between said baflie plates and said drum.

plurality of rows of obliquely inclined side by side transverse baflies, the baflies in each of said rows being arranged in overlapping relation, bafiles having concavely curved portions for draining said baflles, and plates connecting said bafiies to said drum, whereby wet steam passing to said steam outlet passes first through said battle system.

8. The combination with a steam and Water drum having a steam outlet at the top thereof.

of a steam separator mounted in said drum' below said steam outlet and having a bottom Wall comprising a plurality of rows of inclined transverse bafiles in overlapping relation and substantially vertical side and end walls connecting said bottom wall to said drum, whereby a dry steam space is formed by said walls and drum and connected to said steam outlet.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this ninth day of November, A. D. 1926.

GEORGE H. GIBSON.

4. The combination with a steam drum having a steam outlet at the top thereof, of a steam separator in the upper part of said drum symmetrically arranged with respect to said steam outlet and comprising a plurality of inclined baiile plates on both sides of said outlet and extending transversely of said drum, a gutter connected to the lower end of each of said baflle plates, means connecting the bailie plates at each end of said separator with said drum at points adjacent the ends of the separator to provide a large dry steam space between said battle plates and said drum and means for preventing wet steam from passing from said gutter directly into said dry steam space.

5; A steam separator comprising a plurality of inclined side by side transverse baflles, each of said baflles having a curved upper section and a curved lower section connected thereto, the upper section of each battle overlapping the curved lower section of one of the adjacent baffles.

6. A steam separator comprising a plurality of obliquely inclined side by side transverse bafiles, said bat les having upper and lower plate sections, each of said sections having concavely curved portions for draining said battles, and the upper section of each of said bafiles arranged to overlap the lower section of one of the adjacent baffles.

7. In a steam and water drum having a steam outlet, a steam separator comprising a 

